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Slater KN, Fivenson D. Incorporating Dermatologic Clinical Research Into Private Practice: A Review. Cureus 2024; 16:e57733. [PMID: 38711732 PMCID: PMC11073855 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Clinical research is beneficial for the continued progression of medicine and the larger body of scientific knowledge. Clinical research can be incorporated into a range of settings, ranging from larger learning institutions to small private practices. With the need for continued advancement of the development of pharmaceutical interventions as well as other forms of clinical understanding, it is advantageous to create an environment where smaller, private practices feel comfortable and guided in establishing clinical research. It can be difficult to find the best methods to incorporate in-house clinical research. This review aims to address this gap in the literature, making the establishment of clinical trials, specifically clinical drug trials, more accessible in dermatology for private practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N Slater
- Dermatology, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, USA
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Makumbi S, Bajunirwe F, Ford D, Turkova A, South A, Lugemwa A, Musiime V, Gibb D, Tamwesigire IK. Voluntariness of consent in paediatric HIV clinical trials: a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study of participants in the CHAPAS-4 and ODYSSEY trials in Uganda. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077546. [PMID: 38431301 PMCID: PMC10910635 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the voluntariness of consent in paediatric HIV clinical trials and the associated factors. DESIGN Mixed-methods, cross-sectional study combining a quantitative survey conducted concurrently with indepth interviews. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS From January 2021 to April 2021, we interviewed parents of children on first-line or second-line Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in two ongoing paediatric HIV clinical trials [CHAPAS-4 (ISRCTN22964075) and ODYSSEY (ISRCTN91737921)] at the Joint Clinical Research Centre Mbarara, Uganda. OUTCOME MEASURES The outcome measures were the proportion of parents with voluntary consent, factors affecting voluntariness and the sources of external influence. Parents rated the voluntariness of their consent on a voluntariness ladder. Indepth interviews described participants' lived experiences and were aimed at adding context. RESULTS All 151 parents randomly sampled for the survey participated (84% female, median age 40 years). Most (67%) gave a fully voluntary decision, with a score of 10 on the voluntariness ladder, whereas 8% scored 9, 9% scored 8, 6% scored 7, 8% scored 6 and 2.7% scored 4. Trust in medical researchers (adjusted OR 9.90, 95% CI 1.01 to 97.20, p=0.049) and male sex of the parent (adjusted OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.00 to 13.38, p=0.05) were positively associated with voluntariness of consent. Prior research experience (adjusted OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.78, p=0.014) and consulting (adjusted OR 0.25. 95% CI 0.10 to 0.60, p=0.002) were negatively associated with voluntariness. Consultation and advice came from referring health workers (36%), spouses (29%), other family members (27%), friends (15%) and researchers (7%). The indepth interviews (n=14) identified the health condition of the child, advice from referring health workers and the opportunity to access better care as factors affecting the voluntariness of consent. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated a high voluntariness of consent, which was enhanced among male parents and by parents' trust in medical researchers. Prior research experience of the child and advice from health workers and spouses were negatively associated with the voluntariness of parents' consent. Female parents and parents of children with prior research experience may benefit from additional interventions to support voluntary participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafic Makumbi
- Joint Clinical Research Centre, Mbarara, Uganda
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Francis Bajunirwe
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Deborah Ford
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Turkova
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Annabelle South
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Victor Musiime
- Joint Clinical Research Centre, Mbarara, Uganda
- Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Diana Gibb
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Imelda K Tamwesigire
- Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
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van Rijssel TI, van Thiel GJMW, Gardarsdottir H, van Delden JJM. Which Benefits Can Justify Risks in Research? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38181217 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2023.2296404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Research ethics committees (RECs) evaluate whether the risk-benefit ratio of a study is acceptable. Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are a novel approach for conducting clinical trials that potentially bring important benefits for research, including several collateral benefits. The position of collateral benefits in risk-benefit assessments is currently unclear. DCTs raise therefore questions about how these benefits should be assessed. This paper aims to reconsider the different types of research benefits, and their position in risk-benefit assessments. We first propose a categorization of research benefits, based on the types of benefits that can be distinguished from the literature and ethical guidelines. Secondly, we will reconsider the position of collateral benefits. We argue that these benefits are not fundamentally different from other benefits of research and can therefore be included in risk-benefit assessments of DCTs.
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Peyro-Saint-Paul L, Gaillard C, Paris A, Gourio C, Zerger C, Ficheux M, Grandazzi G, Parienti JJ, Morello R. Compensating patients in trials: Perspectives from an ethical committee versus sponsor. Eur J Clin Invest 2023; 53:e14044. [PMID: 37345217 DOI: 10.1111/eci.14044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to European clinical research legislation, no undue influence, including financial incentives, should be used to encourage participation in clinical trials. Financial compensation should be based on the inconvenience experienced by patients and is determined by the sponsor. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the adequacy of patients' financial compensation by obtaining an external ethical opinion compared to the actual compensation provided. METHODS We randomly selected and reviewed 50 clinical drug trials, including 25 academic and 25 industry-sponsored studies. An external ethics group consisting of three members from French ethics committees, blinded to the actual compensation and the sponsor, retrospectively reviewed the study characteristics and assessed whether financial compensation was appropriate. Cohen's Kappa test measured agreement between actual compensation and the ethics group's opinion, and the McNemar test measured discrepancies. RESULTS There was no agreement between the actual financial compensation and the ethics group's opinion (K = -.07; 95% CI = [-.16-.02]). More discrepancies were found in favour of financial compensation according to the ethics group than provided by sponsors (12 vs. 2, p = .016). The ethics group recommended financial compensation in 12 out of 50 studies (24%), which were studies with a higher number of additional visits (p = .004) and were more frequently sponsored by industry (p = .008). Sponsors only provided financial compensation in 2 out of 50 studies (4%). CONCLUSION Patients are rarely compensated despite the perceived inconvenience. Both sponsors and ethics members struggle to determine the need for financial compensation, indicating a need for more precise recommendations for both parties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Peyro-Saint-Paul
- Pharmacovigilant, Responsable de lunite de vigilance des essais cliniques (UVEC), Direction de la Recherche et de l'innovation, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Cathy Gaillard
- Pharmacovigilant, Responsable de lunite de vigilance des essais cliniques (UVEC), Direction de la Recherche et de l'innovation, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | | | - Charlotte Gourio
- Pharmacovigilant, Responsable de lunite de vigilance des essais cliniques (UVEC), Direction de la Recherche et de l'innovation, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Céleste Zerger
- Université Paris Descartes Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France
| | - Maxence Ficheux
- Pharmacovigilant, Responsable de lunite de vigilance des essais cliniques (UVEC), Direction de la Recherche et de l'innovation, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | | | | | - Rémy Morello
- Pharmacovigilant, Responsable de lunite de vigilance des essais cliniques (UVEC), Direction de la Recherche et de l'innovation, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
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Bove R, Poole S, Cuneo R, Gupta S, Sabatino J, Harms M, Cooper T, Rowles W, Miller N, Gomez R, Lincoln R, McPolin K, Powers K, Santaniello A, Renschen A, Bevan CJ, Gelfand JM, Goodin DS, Guo CY, Romeo AR, Hauser SL, Campbell Cree BA. Remote Observational Research for Multiple Sclerosis: A Natural Experiment. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2023; 10:10/2/e200070. [PMID: 36585249 PMCID: PMC9808915 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Prospective, deeply phenotyped research cohorts monitoring individuals with chronic neurologic conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), depend on continued participant engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic restricted in-clinic research activities, threatening this longitudinal engagement, but also forced adoption of televideo-enabled care. This offered a natural experiment in which to analyze key dimensions of remote research: (1) comparison of remote vs in-clinic visit costs from multiple perspectives and (2) comparison of the remote with in-clinic measures in cross-sectional and longitudinal disability evaluations. METHODS Between March 2020 and December 2021, 207 MS cohort participants underwent hybrid in-clinic and virtual research visits; 96 contributed 100 "matched visits," that is, in-clinic (Neurostatus-Expanded Disability Status Scale [NS-EDSS]) and remote (televideo-enabled EDSS [tele-EDSS]; electronic patient-reported EDSS [ePR-EDSS]) evaluations. Clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics of participants were collected. RESULTS The costs of remote visits were lower than in-clinic visits for research investigators (facilities, personnel, parking, participant compensation) but also for participants (travel, caregiver time) and carbon footprint (p < 0.05 for each). Median cohort EDSS was similar between the 3 modalities (NS-EDSS: 2, tele-EDSS: 1.5, ePR-EDSS: 2, range 0.6.5); the remote evaluations were each noninferior to the NS-EDSS within ±0.5 EDSS point (TOST for noninferiority, p < 0.01 for each). Furthermore, year to year, the % of participants with worsening/stable/improved EDSS scores was similar, whether each annual evaluation used NS-EDSS or whether it switched from NS-EDSS to tele-EDSS. DISCUSSION Altogether, the current findings suggest that remote evaluations can reduce the costs of research participation for patients, while providing a reasonable evaluation of disability trajectory longitudinally. This could inform the design of remote research that is more inclusive of diverse participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley Bove
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
| | - Shane Poole
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Richard Cuneo
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Sasha Gupta
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Joseph Sabatino
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Meagan Harms
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Tifffany Cooper
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - William Rowles
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Nicolette Miller
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Refujia Gomez
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Robin Lincoln
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kira McPolin
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kyra Powers
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Adam Santaniello
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Adam Renschen
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Carolyn J Bevan
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jeffrey M Gelfand
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Douglas S Goodin
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Chu-Yueh Guo
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Andrew R Romeo
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Stephen L Hauser
- From the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Khoo EJ, Duenas DM, Wilfond BS, Gelinas L, Matheny Antommaria AH. Incentives in Pediatric Research in Developing Countries: When Are They Too Much? Pediatrics 2023; 151:e2021055702. [PMID: 36660851 PMCID: PMC9890390 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-055702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
When incentives are offered to parents and their children to partake in research, there are concerns that parents may be unduly influenced by the incentives, and the children may be exploited. We present a case from a low- and middle-income country and consider the ethical issues that arise when the children are asked to participate in a multinational, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the effects of a nutritional supplement on growth. The first commenter, from Malaysia, notes that their residents might not share Americans' expectations regarding children's role in the consent process from a cultural perspective, which may alter the analysis of the concerns. The authors of the second commentary emphasize the use of incentives that benefit the child participant rather than their parent or are provided directly to the child participant to address the concerns. The third commentator discusses the importance of minimizing the study's risks and balancing the benefits and the risks, which attenuates the concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin Jiayuan Khoo
- International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Devan M. Duenas
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Benjamin S. Wilfond
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Luke Gelinas
- Advarra IRB, Columbia, Maryland
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Armand H. Matheny Antommaria
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Obi ON, Saketkoo LA, Russell AM, Baughman RP. Sarcoidosis: Updates on therapeutic drug trials and novel treatment approaches. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:991783. [PMID: 36314034 PMCID: PMC9596775 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.991783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. It affects the lungs in over 90% of patients yet extra-pulmonary and multi-organ involvement is common. Spontaneous remission of disease occurs commonly, nonetheless, over 50% of patients will require treatment and up to 30% of patients will develop a chronic progressive non-remitting disease with marked pulmonary fibrosis leading to significant morbidity and death. Guidelines outlining an immunosuppressive treatment approach to sarcoidosis were recently published, however, the strength of evidence behind many of the guideline recommended drugs is weak. None of the drugs currently used for the treatment of sarcoidosis have been rigorously studied and prescription of these drugs is often based on off-label” indications informed by experience with other diseases. Indeed, only two medications [prednisone and repository corticotropin (RCI) injection] currently used in the treatment of sarcoidosis are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This situation results in significant reimbursement challenges especially for the more advanced (and often more effective) drugs that are favored for severe and refractory forms of disease causing an over-reliance on corticosteroids known to be associated with significant dose and duration dependent toxicities. This past decade has seen a renewed interest in developing new drugs and exploring novel therapeutic pathways for the treatment of sarcoidosis. Several of these trials are active randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed to recruit relatively large numbers of patients with a goal to determine the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of these new molecules and therapeutic approaches. While it is an exciting time, it is also necessary to exercise caution. Resources including research dollars and most importantly, patient populations available for trials are limited and thus necessitate that several of the challenges facing drug trials and drug development in sarcoidosis are addressed. This will ensure that currently available resources are judiciously utilized. Our paper reviews the ongoing and anticipated drug trials in sarcoidosis and addresses the challenges facing these and future trials. We also review several recently completed trials and draw lessons that should be applied in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogugua Ndili Obi
- Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Ogugua Ndili Obi,
| | - Lesley Ann Saketkoo
- New Orleans Scleroderma and Sarcoidosis Patient Care and Research Center, New Orleans, LA, United States,University Medical Center—Comprehensive Pulmonary Hypertension Center and Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic Programs, New Orleans, LA, United States,Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States,Department of Undergraduate Honors, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Anne-Marie Russell
- Exeter Respiratory Institute University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom,Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Devon, United Kingdom,Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert P. Baughman
- Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Różyńska J. The ethical anatomy of payment for research participants. MEDICINE, HEALTH CARE, AND PHILOSOPHY 2022; 25:449-464. [PMID: 35610403 PMCID: PMC9427899 DOI: 10.1007/s11019-022-10092-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In contrast to most publications on the ethics of paying research subjects, which start by identifying and analyzing major ethical concerns raised by the practice (in particular, risks of undue inducement and exploitation) and end with a set of-more or less well-justified-ethical recommendations for using payment schemes immune to these problems, this paper offers a systematic, principle-based ethical analysis of the practice. It argues that researchers have a prima facie moral obligation to offer payment to research subjects, which stems from the principle of social beneficence. This principle constitutes an ethical "spine" of the practice. Other ethical principles of research ethics (respect for autonomy, individual beneficence, and justice/fairness) make up an ethical "skeleton" of morally sound payment schemes by providing additional moral reasons for offering participants (1) recompense for reasonable expenses; and (2a) remuneration conceptualized as a reward for their valuable contribution, provided (i) it meets standards of equality, adequacy and non-exploitation, and (ii) it is not overly attractive (i.e., it does not constitute undue inducement for participation or retention, and does not encourage deceptive behaviors); or (2b) remuneration conceptualized as a market-driven price, provided (i) it is necessary and designed to help the study achieve its social and scientific goals, (ii) it does not reinforce wider social injustices and inequalities; (iii) it meets the requirement of non-exploitation; and (iv) it is not overly attractive. The principle of justice provides a strong ethical reason for not offering recompenses for lost wages (or loss of other reasonably expected profits).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Różyńska
- Center for Bioethics and Biolaw, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 3, 00-047, Warsaw, Poland.
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Milford C, Cavanagh T, Ralfe Y, Maphumulo V, Beksinska M, Smit J. How is Clinical Trial Reimbursement Money Spent? South African Trial Participants' Reported Reimbursement Spending Patterns and Perceptions of Appropriate Reimbursement Amounts. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:604-612. [PMID: 34379272 PMCID: PMC8813833 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03418-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Reimbursement of participants in clinical trials is extensively debated. Guidance recommends that compensation should reflect time, inconvenience and reimbursement of expenses. This study describes how participants spend their reimbursement and perceptions of appropriate reimbursement amounts. This was a sub-study of the evidence for contraceptive options and HIV outcomes (ECHO) trial. Participants were from two sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A mixed methods approach was used. 500 participants completed a questionnaire, and 32 participated in one of four focus group discussions (FGD). The majority (81%) used reimbursement for transport to the research site, followed by toiletry purchases (64%). Many described how reimbursement supplemented income, used to cover basic living costs. Some used money to buy luxury items and takeaway foods. The ideal reimbursement amount per visit ranged: ZAR150-ZAR340 (US$10–24). Reimbursement spending and perceptions are in line with local guidance. Reimbursement should consider risk minimization together with ensuring informed, voluntary decision making.
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Suleiman ARM, Javanbakht A, Whitfield KE. The effect of stress and acculturation on the self-rated health of Arab Americans. J Family Community Med 2021; 28:175-180. [PMID: 34703377 PMCID: PMC8496703 DOI: 10.4103/jfcm.jfcm_150_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The self-rated health of Arab Americans has been found to be worse than non-Hispanic whites. Psychosocial factors such as stress and acculturation may explain this disparity. As a result, we designed this survey to better understand the effects of stress and acculturation on the self-rated health of the Arab-American community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a convenience sample, we surveyed 142 self-identified Arab Americans regarding demographics, stress, acculturation, and self-rated health. Stress was measured using instruments assessing perceived stress, everyday discrimination, and acculturative stress. Acculturation was measured using a modified Vancouver Index of Acculturation. To measure self-rated health, participants were asked to rate their current health on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). RESULTS: A logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and education did not find that stress significantly affected the odds of having poor self-rated health in Arab Americans. Heritage identity was associated with lower odds of having poor self-rated health (odds ratio = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15, 0.94, P < 0.05). No association was found between acculturation and poor self-rated health. CONCLUSION: Greater levels of stress were not significantly associated with greater odds of poor self-rated health in Arab Americans. We also found that greater heritage identity significantly decreased the odds of poor self-rated health in Arab Americans. The effects of everyday discrimination, perceived stress, and acculturation on self-rated health in Arab Americans remain unclear and need to be examined further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul-Rahman M Suleiman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Arash Javanbakht
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Keith E Whitfield
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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Effects of financial incentives on volunteering for clinical trials: A randomized vignette experiment. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 110:106584. [PMID: 34597837 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Financial incentives may aid recruitment to clinical trials, but evidence regarding risk/burden-driven variability in participant preferences for incentives is limited. We developed and tested a framework to support real-world decisions on recruitment budget. METHODS We included two phases: an Anchoring Survey, to ensure we could capture perceived unpleasantness on a range of life events, and a Vignette Experiment, to explore relationships between financial incentives and participants' perceived risk/burden and willingness to participate in high- and low-risk/burden versions of five vignettes drawn from common research activities. We compared vignette ratings to identify similarly rated life events from the Anchoring Survey to contextualize ratings of study risk. RESULTS In our Anchoring Survey (n = 643), mean ratings (scale 1 = lowest risk/burden to 5 = highest risk/burden) indicated that the questions made sense to participants, with highest risk assigned to losing house in a fire (4.72), and lowest risk assigned to having blood pressure taken (1.13). In the Vignette Experiment (n = 534), logistic regression indicated that amount of offered financial incentive and perceived risk/burden level were the top two drivers of willingness to participate in four of the five vignettes. Comparison of event ratings in the Anchoring Survey with the Vignette Experiment ratings suggested reasonable concordance on severity of risk/burden. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated feasibility of a framework for assessing participant perceptions of risk for study activities and discerned directionality of relationship between financial incentives and willingness to participate. Future work will explore use of this framework as an evidence-gathering approach for gauging appropriate incentives in real-world study contexts.
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Bierer BE, White SA, Gelinas L, Strauss DH. Fair payment and just benefits to enhance diversity in clinical research. J Clin Transl Sci 2021; 5:e159. [PMID: 34527298 PMCID: PMC8427546 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2021.816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Routine, nonmedical and ancillary medical costs associated with participation in clinical research create barriers to enrollment for economically disadvantaged individuals. To the extent that race, ethnicity, and gender are linked to SES, such barriers impact efforts to diversify clinical research enrollment. But payment policies and practices often reflect the longstanding and singular concern that payment to participants will bias decision-making and compromise informed consent. We argue that this concern must be viewed in a larger ethical context in which the untoward consequences for the individual participant and for the broader research enterprise are considerable when either inadequate or no payment is provided for expenses incurred ("reimbursement") and time committed ("compensation"). Fairness in payment and protection from undue influence of payment on the informed consent process are important but distinct ethical considerations. Fundamentally, approaches to payment that leave participants financially worse off as a consequence of taking part in research are inherently unjust as they have a differential impact on recruitment and retention based on socioeconomic status. Sponsors, funders, investigators, and IRBs must be cognizant of the impact of inadequate payment on clinical trial inclusion of historically understudied groups. We address practical and fair payment strategies to advance inclusion, the additional barrier of ancillary medical costs, and potential unintended consequences of payment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E. Bierer
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah A. White
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke Gelinas
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Advarra, Columbia, MD, USA
| | - David H. Strauss
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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Gelinas L, Morrell W, White SA, Bierer BE. Navigating the ethics of remote research data collection. Clin Trials 2021; 18:606-614. [PMID: 34231414 DOI: 10.1177/17407745211027245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has accelerated broad trends already in place toward remote research data collection and monitoring. This move implicates novel ethical and regulatory challenges which have not yet received due attention. Existing work is preliminary and does not seek to identify or grapple with the issues in a rigorous and sophisticated way. Here, we provide a framework for identifying and addressing challenges that we believe can help the research community realize the benefits of remote technologies while preserving ethical ideals and public trust. We organize issues into several distinct categories and provide points to consider in a table that can help facilitate ethical design and review of research studies using remote health instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Gelinas
- Advarra IRB, Columbia, MD, USA.,Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Walker Morrell
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah A White
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Barbara E Bierer
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Lynch HF, Darton TC, Levy J, McCormick F, Ogbogu U, Payne RO, Roth AE, Shah AJ, Smiley T, Largent EA. Promoting Ethical Payment in Human Infection Challenge Studies. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2021; 21:11-31. [PMID: 33541252 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2020.1854368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To prepare for potential human infection challenge studies (HICS) involving SARS-CoV-2, we convened a multidisciplinary working group to address ethical questions regarding whether and how much SARS-CoV-2 HICS participants should be paid. Because the goals of paying HICS participants, as well as the relevant ethical concerns, are the same as those arising for other types of clinical research, the same basic framework for ethical payment can apply. This framework divides payment into reimbursement, compensation, and incentives, focusing on fairness and promoting adequate recruitment and retention as counterweights to concerns about undue inducement. Within the basic framework, several factors are especially salient for HICS, and for SARS-CoV-2 HICS in particular, including the nature of participant confinement, anticipated discomfort, risks and uncertainty, participant motivations, and trust. These factors are reflected in a payment worksheet created to help sponsors, researchers, and ethics reviewers systematically develop and assess ethically justifiable payment amounts.
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Largent EA, Lynch HF. Paying Participants in COVID-19 Trials. J Infect Dis 2020; 222:356-361. [PMID: 32469074 PMCID: PMC7313938 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Trials are in development and underway to examine potential interventions for treatment and prophylaxis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). How should we think about offering payment to participants in these trials? Payment for research participation is ethically contentious even under ideal circumstances. Here, we review 3 functions of research payment-reimbursement, compensation, and incentive-and identify heightened and novel ethical concerns in the context of a global pandemic. We argue that COVID-19 trial participants should usually be offered reimbursement for research-related expenses, and compensation for their time and effort, as for other types of research under usual circumstances. Given increased risk of undue influence against pandemic background conditions, incentive payment should be avoided unless essential to recruitment and retention in important trials whose social value outweighs this risk. Where essential, however, incentives can be ethically permissible, so long as reasonable efforts are made to minimize the possibility of undue influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Largent
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Holly Fernandez Lynch
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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